The Department of Justice has realized its mistake and corrected itself in connection with the killing of radio broadcaster and environmentalist Gerardo “Doc Gerry” Ortega.
The DoJ filed murder charges Tuesday against former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes, his brother Coron Mayor Mario Reyes Jr., former Palawan administrator Romeo Serratubias and two others, who were all cleared last year by the department.
From results of an investigation by the Puerto Princesa City police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), it was obvious that Reyes et al. conspired in murdering Ortega.
The motive was also very clear: Ortega had been criticizing Reyes in the broadcaster’s daily radio program.
The first DoJ panel that conducted the preliminary investigation said it found evidence and testimonies of witnesses “insufficient to establish probable cause” against Reyes et al.
But it filed murder charges against the confessed gunman, Marlon Recamata and his lookouts, and Reyes’ former bodyguard, who allegedly acted as the link between the ex-governor and the gunman.
The first DoJ panel probably had “millions” of reasons for getting Reyes et al. off the hook.
Hurray for the second DoJ panel, which recommended the filing of murder charges against Reyes and his alleged co-conspirators!
I believe that people with integrity still outnumber those without integrity at the Department of Justice.
With Justice Secretary Leila de Lima at the helm, more people with integrity will be added to those who already have that virtue.
* * *
I was once a victim of people without integrity at the DoJ.
When then First Gentleman Mike Arroyo filed libel cases and ordered extortion cases filed against me, the prosecutors who handled the preliminary investigation were quick in elevating the cases to the courts.
One Manila prosecutor even had the temerity to tell me and my lawyer that he would conduct the next hearing in Malacañang as he didn’t want to make it inconvenient for Mr. Arroyo.
If not for Divine intervention—Mike Arroyo had a stroke and dropped all cases he filed against his critics upon his doctors’ advice—those cases would still be pending in various courts.
* * *
At the height of his wife’s power, Mr. Arroyo filed cases left and right against journalists who criticized him.
The shoe is now on the other foot. He is now facing various criminal cases, and the first one was filed Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the NBN-ZTE deal, which was later scrapped.
If that’s not karmic justice, I don’t know what is.
* * *
There is a case involving an abusive, bullying British national that has been pending resolution since an incident in September 2009 at Martini’s Bar in Makati City’s Mandarin Hotel.
The foreigner, Kerry Morgan, who is married to a Filipina, verbally abused and made grave threats against Josefina “Jojo” Juan Guevara over an inconsequential matter.
Guevara was calling out to a bartender whom she and her companion knew personally.
Morgan told her to shut up. “You’re shouting in my ear,” he said.
When Guevara reasoned out, Morgan threatened to have her killed.
The case that Guevara filed against Morgan remains unresolved for three years now.